The right move

Any second-guessing there might have been about Coach Pete DeBoer choosing to start Craig Anderson instead of Tomas Vokoun in goal tommorrow is gone.

Vokoun sat out practice today because of back spasms -- he left yesterday's morning skate halfway through -- and the Panthers have called up Tyler Plante from the AHL to back up Anderson.

But even if Vokoun was fully healthy, DeBoer said, he would have started Anderson on Wednesday and he'd start Anderson on Friday. His explanation:

"Anderson deserves to start again. It's about winning hockey games. We know what Tomas is capable of. This isn't about him or competition or who is the starter. We need wins and Anderson is hot."

I say it's a bold move by the first-year coach, one that shows he's willing to take chances rather than stay safe with the status quo. It's also the right move. Vokoun is and will be the starter for this team, but right now, you have to play the hand that's hot, and Anderson's statistics and record are stronger than Vokoun's.

This decision follows what DeBoer has been saying all along -- the better you perform, the more ice time you'll see.

What are your thoughts? Did DeBoer make the right move? Or should Vokoun, had he been healthy, have gotten the start tommorrow?